So I'm starting to workout again and trying not to lose focus and end up not going to the gym like I have in the past. I just want to get some advise on a good workout plan.

My main goal is to gain weight and build muscle. I'm a skinny guy and would like to put on some more weight...I do eat a lot but have trouble gaining weight.

Today was my first day hitting the gym. I plan on going 3 days a week just get the hang of working out again. I did a 30 minute session and focused on only arms and back exercises and did 5 minutes at the end on an inclined treadmill just for a little cardio.

I know I will be sore in the morning so any tips on preventing the soreness or reducing?

Also any advice on what I should be my workout routine and do you guys think 30 min session is to short for what my goal is?

One/two muscles group per day, it'll let your muscles recover and build while you work on a new set.

The benefit of doing full routine as opposed to split routine as this member suggested, is that full-routine workouts prompt a greater testosterone response. The hormone is all-important in gaining muscle mass.

I know I will be sore in the morning so any tips on preventing the soreness or reducing?

Ice baths. Plunging in 55 degree water.

This morning myself and three other fitness junky friends went to the local college football stadium and ran up and down the bleachers, the corkscrew ramps, did kettlebell routines in teams of two competing for time, and otherwise killed ourselves until we were ready to puke. When we work out, we draw attention. Afterwards, 15 minutes in a 55 degree fahrenheit cold plunge, and I felt like I wanted to go out and do some more. I'm 30 years old.

Also, ice baths pull double duty and help you eliminate fat. As will swimming in cool water (between 70-80 degrees F).

Stretching will prevent injury more than prevent soreness or reduce recovery time. Not that it isn't important, you do NOT want to get injured and lose your steam. Rolling out your muscles on foam rollers will help get the lactic acid out of your body, as will massages.

How strong are you right now? Depending on how strong you are, I would go with one of two plans.
First one is strong lifts 5x5. This is beyond great for beginner weight lifters looking to gain mass and strength. The second is Wendler 5/3/1, which I'm currently doing. This is more of an intermediate plan. There is A LOT of information about these two programs online, too much to actually even post here
And to gain mass you'll need a lot of protein and dedication

Find a solid routine like the strong lifts 5x5 mentioned above, and eat. Most of the people complaining they can't gain and they eat enough most of time don't enough. If you want to be say 200lbs, eat like you are 200lbs.

How strong are you right now? Depending on how strong you are, I would go with one of two plans.First one is strong lifts 5x5. This is beyond great for beginner weight lifters looking to gain mass and strength. The second is Wendler 5/3/1, which I'm currently doing. This is more of an intermediate plan. There is A LOT of information about these two programs online, too much to actually even post here
And to gain mass you'll need a lot of protein and dedication

Thanks! SL 5x5 seems like an interesting program from what I've read so far Might give it a go.

Thanks! SL 5x5 seems like an interesting program from what I've read so far Might give it a go.

Make sure to download the excel spread sheet that can be found on their site. its really helpful for tracking, logging, and predicting where you will be at in the future. Theres also a cool iPhone app for that routine if you search the iTunes store, free too i think

all it takes is consistency with pushing yourself. Anytime you feel like a weight is getting easier to lift, start upping the weight. (if you're going for muscle).

Always Always ALWAYS work until failure. i.e. don't do baby weight cuz its easy. Try higher weights, even if you can only do a few.

I personally do 12 reps of a warm up weight, 10 reps of a slightly difficult weight, and 8 reps of a difficult weight for any excercise I'm doing. As each weight gets easier, I up the weight using the same reps.

You don't HAVE to eat ridiculously, but like I said consistently challenge yourself. Without any expectation of quick results, it really shouldn't take more than 1 year of consistent training to get significantly larger. I personally believe in building muscle naturally, not using supplements or protein shakes, but instead using appropriate dietary change. Ex: more protein than usual, lots of fruits and vegetables, and careful on carb intake. Yeah you want the energy, but don't overdo it (or underdo it). Diversify your diet, don't just eat the same thing every day. If you do opt for protein shakes, don't replace a meal with them. Over a matter of time you can have kidney failure by not getting the nutrients you're removing in meals by only having protein shakes.

I consider being able to lift an additional 5-10 lbs per month on said excercises is very good progress, but maybe that's just me.

^Not professional advice, just what I learned from football in High School. I'm 6'0" 198 lbs.

The benefit of doing full routine as opposed to split routine as this member suggested, is that full-routine workouts prompt a greater testosterone response. The hormone is all-important in gaining muscle mass.

Right, but from my understanding if you don't leave them any time to recover and grow larger, you end up wasting a bit of your workout that way since you keep re-tearing your shit before it can fully heal (assuming you go multiple days in a row)

Another method to release a lot of testosterone is to do legs more often. Also stop jacking off so much (inb4 IMPOSSIBRU)